Human Flourishing: Truth as Foundation of Hope

Being aware of the situations that we are living in the political sphere in the Philippines, the unprecedented weather conditions, and sadly even the numerous corruption and scandals within the Church: one may ask for an answer for the why and how of these situations but this seems difficult to reach and understand. In spite of that, the human heart does not rest on that situation alone. There is a natural human desire for something better amid the troubles and worries of life. An initial desire for something better is already a good sign to bring into fruition the little seed that we hope for the betterment of our lives. This sense of uncertainty may hinder us to live in the boldness of what the world offers us. One may seek for truth and clarity in the midst of a confused and blinded world we are living in. Thus, this paper reflects on truth as a foundation of hope for human flourishing into three interconnected themes: seeking the truth, hoping for truth, and living the truth.

Seeking the Truth

St. Thomas Aquinas defined truth as a conformity between intellect and reality. The logical relationship between the way we perceive things and the objective reality is the key for seeking the truth. As a rational being, we are inclined to search and hold truth as precious in our minds, this is because in truth we are able to make sense of what we perceive in a world full of mystery that could somehow guide our compass of living, to ultimately know what could truly satisfy our restless hearts.

Unfortunately, this concept of truth has become increasingly complex in our understanding especially in our culture today. We can see this in the areas of politics on the issue of governance, the distorted views influenced in the social media and especially to the ideologies that are arising today. This generation has been relativized in relation with our perception of truth. Pope Benedict XVI greatly emphasized this notion, we have become a dictator of relativism by satisfying our own ego. We refuse to see reality as it is because our ego has fed our perception of things, leading us to a distorted view of the world. This is the root of our discord within the society, when truth is subjective that ultimately complicates relationships.

In the journey of pursuing truth, it presupposes that we acknowledge our biases and critically evaluate it and also engage in dialogue. That is why pursuit of knowledge does not only require intellectual rigor but also courage and boldness in eliminating our biases to truly find the truth we are seeking for.

Hoping for Truth

Fr. Nicanor Austricio, OP discussed through the lens of analytic philosophy, that hope requires desire and belief. This means to hope for something does not only require desire but also to believe that it is possible. It allows us to live in boldness at the present moment. Realizing the truth of the present moment is a challenge for opening to the newness of life. This hope is rooted in man's goal of happiness since the goal of man is to be happy and we can admit that every moment in our life we seek for happiness. Aristotle defined eudaimonia as an attainment of virtue that is suitable for the nature of man as good. Thus, this makes man able to fully reveal man’s deepest desire. With that, hope is not a passive state but an active force that moves one to engage in reality that there is a possibility in making our belief come true. We tend to reframe the hardships and uncertainties of life into opportunities for growth.

In relation to truth, hope is transformative because it makes one envision a reality where truth prevails, even when the current situation seems miserable. Having this notion of hope and truth also necessitates resilience and perseverance. As Filipinos, we can say we are hopeful people because of our resilience as we overcome adversity and bounce back from challenges. It challenges us to look beyond the difficulties we are experiencing in the present moment and imagine the big picture where truth can flourish in our lives.

Consequently, hoping for truth connects deeply on how we deeply engage in relationships because in relationships we make commitments where hope can grow. It demands trust and cooperation with other people in order to achieve certainty in our lives.

Living the Truth

As we seek and hope for truth, it is important to actualize the truth in our being. It is noted above that achieving eudaimonia is not mere abstract idea but a lived reality through virtuous acts. Therefore, real happiness is rooted in aligning one’s life in truth. For real happiness is achieved only by acting in accordance with the truth. Only a good act, a truly good act can make us a truly morally fulfilled and happy person. Having this new idea of truth reveals to us that hope can transform us for in hope, things may be uncertain but never empty. There is still something that we can hold on though this is not yet crystal clear in our minds. Living the authentic power of hope enables us to be open to what reality may bring us. Having the courage to accept new challenges and struggles in life is a new step forward human flourishing.

Cardinal Cantalamessa noted that hope means reflecting on the ultimate meaning of our existence because in the peak of all this life, there is another life that awaits us after death. The source of this notion lies in our longing for our well being, thus our sanctification. Thus, the summum bonum can truly be realized in the actualization of our sanctification in heaven once we see God face to face in contemplating His divine essence.

In conclusion, the ability to look forward to the future is already realized by the disposition of hope in standing our ground on the truth that our faith professes that in God all things work for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28). This is a reminder that the essence of hope is surrendering to God’s sovereignty, who is truth Himself, the foundation of all reality, and thus, the foundation of hope.

Bibliography

Aquinas, Thomas. Summa Theologica. Translated by Fathers of the English Dominican Province. Accessed November 30, 2024. https://www.newadvent.org/summa.

Austriaco, Nicanor, OP. “Virtue of Hope.” Presented at the St. Catherine of Alexandria Philosophical Conference, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, November 25, 2024.

Benedict XVI. “The Dictatorship of Relativism and the Measure of True Humanism.” Benedict XVI Website. Accessed December 1, 2024. https://www.benedictusxvi.com/homilies/the-dictatorship-of-relativism-and-the-measure-of-true-humanism#:~:text=We%20are%20building%20a%20dictatorship,the%20measure%20of%20true%20humanism.

Vatican News. “Cardinal Cantalamessa Reflects on the ‘Gate of Hope’ during Advent.” Vatican News. Accessed December 1, 2024. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2022-12/cardinal-cantalamessa-homily-advent-2022-gate-of-hope.html.